Hot Seat: Outgoing council member Stacy Head on the good, the bad, the ugly

Hot Seat: Outgoing council member Stacy Head on the good, the bad, the ugly

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Updated: 9:57 AM CDT Apr 16, 2018

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WEBVTT TONIGHT, A SPECIAL GUESTS JOINING US FOR AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION. STACY IS HERE. SHE SERVED 12 YEARS ON THE NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL. TONIGHT SHE IS TALKING EVERYTHING FOR THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY. LESS THAN ONE MONTH BEFORE STACY , WHO IS ONE OF THE LONGEST CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS -- COMES TO AN END. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AS IT’S SET IN YET THAT THIS IS THE END OF WHAT HAS BEEN A LONG RUN? PEOPLE FORGET YOU WERE JUST A KID IN YOUR 30’S BACK IN 2006 WHEN YOU’RE ELECTED. HAS IT SET IN THAT THIS IS COMING TO AN END? >> IT HAS. WE HAD MANY MONTHS BEFORE THE NEW PEOPLE TAKE OFFICE. IT HAS ALLOWED A LOT OF REFLECTION AND FOR ME TO PUT MY HOUSE IN ORDER PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY TO LEAVE THINGS IN A GOOD PLACE FOR NEW PEOPLE. TRAVERS: WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE HOME STRETCH HERE. ANYTHING A PARTICULAR? >> ONE OF THE LAST THINGS I WANT TO DO IS ASK THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION TO DO A RETAIL STUDY TO TRY TO DISCOURAGE FORMULA RETAIL ONTO TRISH AND ALL -- TRADITIONAL CORRIDORS LIKE MAGAZINES OR REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DOLLAR STORES IN NEW ORLEANS EAST, BUT TO PUSH FORMULA RETAIL TO CORRIDORS LIKE LARGER SCALE BOX. THE SECOND THING I WANT TO DO IS GET A PROPER DEFINITION, I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR TWO YEARS ON A PROPER DEFINITION OF WHAT A DEMOLITION IS. IN A CITY WITH SO MUCH HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE AND THEORETICALLY, A LOT OF PROTECTIONS TO MAKE SURE WE DO NOT WASTE THAT IMPORT AND HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE. WE DO NOT HAVE A GREAT DEFINITION FOR DEMOLITION. THOSE AT THE TWO FINAL THINGS I WANT TO CHECK OFF MY LIST. I HAVE A WHITEBOARD IN MY OFFICE. I HAVE A LOT OF CHECKS THAT HAVE TO BE COMPLETED IN THE LAST SIX OR SO MONTHS. THOSE ARE THE LAST TWO I WANT TO DO. TRAVERS: STILL WORKING UNTIL THE FINAL DAY. YOU HAVE SERVED UNDER TWO MAYORS AND YOU KNOW THE MAYOR ELECT A VERY WELL. WE WILL GET TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THEM. RIGHT OFF THE GATE, WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST A COMPASS MAN? 12 YEARS, YOU HAVE COVERED A LOT OF GROUND. YOU HAVE A LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS TO GET TO. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST A COP WAS MEANT? WHAT DO YOU PUT YOUR FINGERS -- WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST TRUMP IS MEANT? >> GETTING BLIGHTED PROPERTY INTO CONGRESS. IT DID ME ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AND I DID NOT HAVE SUCCESS UNTIL I WORKED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION. WE HAD TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PROPERTY OUT OF COMMERCE THAT WERE ADJUDICATED TO THE CITY. I WORKED WITH THE MAYOR’S ADMINISTRATION, THE STATE LEGISLATOR TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LAWS WERE CLEAR, THAT WE COULD SELL THOSE PROPERTIES AND AUCTIONS. WE HAVE RAISED OVER $20 MILLION FOR THE TAX AND POTTIES FOR THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND THAT HAS RESIDUAL BENEFITS. AS WELL AS ENCOURAGING THE CITY TO GET LESS PROPERTY OFF OF ITS BOOKS. THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. LAND FISCALLY FOCUSED RAISING MONEY FOR THE CITY IN A WAY THAT DOESN’T OVERTAX THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ARE A PAYING TAXES. THAT IS THE BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT. SECONDARILY, AND I THINK IT GOES THROUGH MOST OF THE THINGS I HAVE BEEN MY INITIATIVE, IT HAS BEEN TRYING TO FOCUS ON BASIC CITY FUNCTIONING. ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT NEW ORLEANS IS WE FOCUS ON THE FUNDINGS. WE FOCUSED ON THE BIG ISSUES. WE ARE PARTIES, WE HAVE FESTIVALS, WE HAVE CULTURE AND WE DO IT WELL. WE DO IT BETTER THAN ANYONE. WHAT WE DON’T DO IS FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT THE AVERAGE CITIZEN WANTS FROM THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS. I HAVE BEEN A DOGGETT ADVOCATE FOR BASIC CITY FUNCTIONING, FOR DEPARTMENTAL FUNCTIONING FOR TREATING THE AVERAGE PERSON THE SAME THAT YOU WOULD TREAT SOMEONE WHO CAN HIRE A CONSULTANT TO SAY, COME TO CITY HALL SO THAT IT ACTUALLY BRINGS ME TO MY THIRD THING I AM WORKING ON. THAT IS TO MOVE THE FINAL PORTION OF PERMITTING FOR BARS AND RESTAURANTS THAT WANT TO GET INTO LICENSE. THIS ADMINISTRATION DID A GREAT JOB OF PUTTING MOST PERMITTING INTO ONE-STOP SHOP. THEY HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF MAKING PERMITTING EASY IN NEW ORLEANS. IT IS NOT GREAT, BUT IT IS EASIER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN. I AM TRYING TO MOVE THEM INTO THE ONE-STOP. I GOT MY WHITEBOARD. TRAVERS: KEEP GOING, THIS IS IMPORTANT. >> WE NEED TO GET THAT DONE BECAUSE IT IS A LASTING TO MAKE IT EASY FOR THE AVERAGE JOE WHO WANTS TO OPEN A CAFE. TRAVERS: IT IS THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT PEOPLE HERE. CITY HALL IS TOO DIFFICULT TO DO BUSINESS WITH. IS IT BETTER FROM 2006 TO 2018 SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN IN PUBLIC OFFICE? >> IT IS ABSOLUTELY BETTER. THERE WERE STRANGE GROWING PAINS HOW WE ARE EVEN SEEING THAT WHAT THIS LAST FINAL PUSH TO MAKE CITY HALL FUNCTION BETTER. THERE ARE ACTUALLY PEOPLE, AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN DO NOT WANT EFFICIENCY WITHIN CITY HALL BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE INSIDE SYSTEM BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE. THEY HAVE A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE. TRAVERS: IS THAT CRAZY THAT PEOPLE DON’T WANT EFFICIENCY INSIDE CITY HALL? HOW DO WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE THAT OUT? PEOPLE WILL KILL THAT -- PEOPLE WILL HEAR THAT AND SAY, WHAT DID SHE JUST SAY? WHEN THERE ARE GROUPS, INDIVIDUALS OR COLLECT THE FLEET GROUPS THAT ARGUE AGAINST EFFICIENCY -- USUALLY THEY WILL MAKE AN EXCUSE, BUT I TRIED TO EXPOSE THEM BECAUSE, IF YOU ARE JUST A PERSON WHO WANTS TO OPEN A CAFE AND GET A LIQUOR LICENSE, YOU HAVE TO GO TO MULTIPLE PLACES WITHIN CITY HALL AND ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS YOU HAVE TO GO TO TAKES FIVE AND SIX WEEKS, FIVE TO SIX TIMES LONGER THAN PERMITS TO PROCESS. THERE IS NO REASON, EXCEPT THAT YOU HAVE A CONSULTANT OR YOU ARE IN INSIDER THAT YOU WOULD NOT WANT THAT FUNCTION TO BE MOVED WITHIN SAFETY PERMITS. WE WILL SEE WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK’S AND HIRE THEIR LIQUOR LOBBY IS TO TRY AND STOP THE INITIATIVES. TRAVERS: YOU JUST MENTION WORKING WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION. AT TIMES YOU WERE BUMPING HEADS WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING THE CURRENT ERROR. HEAVY GUYS BEEN ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER BEHIND THE SCENES, BECAUSE PUBLICLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY STACY AND MITCH DO NOT GET ALONG. IS THAT ACCURATE? PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH, THAT IS NOT THE APPROACH I TAKE. I KNOW A LOT OF POLITICS IN THE PAST HAVE GOTTEN THINGS DONE. HE GOT THINGS DONE BECAUSE HE WAS BUDDY BUDDY WITH EVERYONE. I WOULD RATHER FOCUS ON ISSUES AND FACTS AND CONVINCE PEOPLE OF MY POSITION. I HAVE HAD SUCCESS WITH THAT WITH MAYOR LANDRY. ON MANY THINGS WE ARE LIKE-MINDED. GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. I REALLY CANNOT OVERSTATE HOW MUCH BETTER CITY HALL FUNCTIONS. THAT SAID, THERE ARE THINGS HE HAS FOCUSED ON THAT I THINK WERE PRIORITIES, AND I THINK THERE WERE THINGS THAT HE FOCUSED ON THAT WERE DAMAGING TO THE CITY. THIS IS WHAT I BELIEVE OUR GOVERNMENT IS ALL ABOUT, RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE WHEN YOU DISAGREE WITH THE PERSON IN ANOTHER BRANCH. I HOPE THAT I HAVE HAD THAT WITH HIM. I DON’T KNOW THAT HE SEES IT THAT WAY, I THINK ONE TIME WE DISCUSSED, IF YOU AGREE 90%, YOU ARE TO GIVE UP ON THE LAST 10%. I THINK IF YOU AGREE ON 90%, YOU OUGHT ARGUE ABOUT THAT 10% A GET CLOSER TO PERFECT. TRAVERS: LET ME ASK YOU THESE YES OR NO QUESTIONS. IS HE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT? >> I THINK HE HOPES TO. TRAVERS: LET’S GO BACK INTO THE EARLY PART. >> I HAVE NO INSIDE INFORMATION. TRAVERS: WE WILL SEE. YOU ALSO SERVED WITH HIM. IN NUTSHELL, CAN YOU SEPARATE HIM? PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM NEW ORLEANS AND US IN THE MEDIA REMEMBER THIS WELL. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID STACY WAS THE OPPOSITION VOICE TO HIM, ESPECIALLY AFTER -- WE ALL KNOW IT HAPPENED TO HIM, HE IS A CONVICTED FELON IN JAIL. GIVE US STOCKS ON SERVING WITH HIM. >> HE WAS DISENGAGED AND DAMAGED. THOSE WERE TWO PROBLEMS THAT WERE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERCOME BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW MUCH PRESSURE, OR HOW MANY CONVERSATIONS YOU WOULD HAVE WITH HIM, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THAT WOULD SUPPORT YOU COULD GET FOR A POSITION, I JUST A THINK THAT MOVED HIM BECAUSE HE WAS VERY DISENGAGED. AGAIN, COMPARING IT TO THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, HE DID NOT HAVE A GREAT TALENTED GROUP AROUND HIM. MITCH HAS HIRED GOOD, SMART PEOPLE ARE -- PEOPLE. HE HAS HIRED REALLY, REALLY GREAT STUFF. WE DID NOT HAVE THAT, WE HAD REALLY GOOD PEOPLE, BUT I AM LARGE, THEY EXECUTIVE STAFF DID NOT SERVE OUR CITY WELL. WE HAD A MAYOR WHO IS DISENGAGED, HE DID NOT HAVE A TALENT POOL THAT WAS THERE TO FILL IN THE GAPS. NO AMOUNT OF PUBLIC PRESSURE, OR DISCUSSION WOULD MOVE THE MAYOR TO ACTIONS HELPFUL. WE TREADED WATER, AT BEST WE TREADED WATER’S FOR THOSE YEARS AFTER KATRINA WHEN HE WAS GONE. TRAVERS: HE IS CURRENTLY SERVING A FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCE. AS GO BACK IN TIME AGAIN. IN 2012 YOU LEFT THE DISTRICT, WHICH YOU HELP THAT DISTRICT WITH THE QUARTER AND PROPERTIES. BACK IN 2012 YOU ARE ONE OF THE VERY FEW PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO ENDORSE A LITTLE-KNOWN GRASSROOTS ACTIVISTS NAME LATOYA CANTRELL. SHE WON THAT RACE, BUT THEN THIS PAST YEAR YOU CHOSE NOT TO ENDORSE ANYBODY IN THE MAYOR’S RACE. HERE IS THE QUESTION, DO YOU SUPPORT THE CURRENT MAYOR ELECT? >> ABSOLUTELY. I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS TO SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER MAYOR ELECT LATOYA CANTRELL. SHE IS A FINE PERSON AND I WILL DO ANYTHING I CAN TO MAKE HER A SUCCESS. WHEN SHE IS A SUCCESS THE CITY IS A SUCCESS. TRAVERS: THE RACE? >> I STAY OUT OF -- IS THERE A REASON YOU STAY OUT OF THE RACE? >> I WANTED TO SET THE LINE THAT I WAS MOVING OUT OF PUBLIC OFFICE. THE VOTERS NEED TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION ABOUT THE CANDIDATES. I THINK THAT WAS A DEMARCATION LINE FOR OUR -- FOR I AM OUT OF OFFICE AND I WILL NO LONGER BE IN THE POLITICAL REALM. MAYBE I WILL TAKE A LITTLE TIME AND COME BACK IN SOME FASHION IN THE FUTURE. I DO NOT KNOW. TRAVERS: I HAVE TO ASK YOU THIS, THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION FOR CREDIT CARDS, DOES ANY TO BE INVESTIGATED QUESTION MARK -- INVESTIGATED? >> I WILL NOT GET INTO THAT. TRAVERS: YOU MADE THOUSANDS OF VOTE ON THE COUNCIL. IN 2007, THE COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO KNOCKED ON THE FARM FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. IN DECEMBER OF 2015 YOU WERE THE LONE VOTE AGAINST REMOVING THE CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS. DO YOU WISH YOU COULD TAKE THOSE VOTES BACK AND DO YOU STILL SUPPORT YOUR DECISIONS? >> I THINK I MADE THE RIGHT VOTES. TRAVERS: THE CITY IS BETTER OFF AT THOSE DECISIONS? >> I CAST ON THE SIDE OF THE VICTORS IN THE SIDE OF THE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT SUCCEED ON THE OTHER, BUT I THINK THOSE WERE THE RIGHT VOTES FOR THE CITY AT THE TIME. I STEP BEHIND THEM. TODAY, I AM GOING TO THE GRAND OPENING OF THE GUST FAMILY COMMUNITY. THERE WAS THE SENIOR CENTER IN CENTRAL CITY RUN BY AMAZING PEOPLE WHO ARE FORMER RESIDENCE. THEY ARE OPENING AFTER DEALING WITH SHENANIGANS FOR PROBABLY 10 YEARS. THAT IS A COMMUNITY THAT IS WELCOMING NEW FAMILIES TO THE CENTRAL CITY COMMUNITY. I DON’T THINK THAT IS THE PANACEA. THERE ARE GOOD ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST. EVERY POLITICIAN WILL SAY THEY KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS, THEY ARE LYING. IT IS A HORRIBLY DYSFUNCTIONAL MESS THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE IDEA OF PUTTING ONE, TWO OR SEVEN COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THE BOARD WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I SAT ON SEWAGE AND WATER BOARD FOR YEARS. ALMOST EVERY MEETING I WOULD BRING UP SOMETHING THAT WAS EITHER, IN MY OPINION, I USED TO PRE--- I USED TO BE A LAWYER, IT WAS BLATANTLY ILLEGAL OR INCREDIBLY FOOLISH. TRAVERS: THAT IS ALMOST SCARY TO HEAR THAT. >> NOBODY CARES, WHICH IS MY BIGGEST POINT. AS I LEAVE THE COUNCIL, IF PEOPLE WOULD JUST PAY ATTENTION WHEN IT DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER, WHEN IT IS BORING, BEFORE THE CATASTROPHE. IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE CATCH BASIN SCANDAL THAT EVERYBODY FOCUSED ON AFTER THE FACT, ALMOST 18 MONTHS, I HELD COMMITTEE MEETING AFTER COMMITTEE MEETING, ISSUED PRESS RELEASE AFTER PRESS RELEASE, SEND LETTER AFTER LETTER TO THE ADMINISTRATION DEMANDING THAT THEY FIX THE CATCH BASINS. AND EVEN QUANTIFY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WITH TAKE TO FIX IT IN THE TIMELINE THEY SHOULD’VE BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. AT THE TIME IT WAS $4.1 MILLION. THERE WAS NO PUBLIC INTEREST OR OUTCRY OTHER THAN THE PEOPLE WHO HAD A CATCH BASIN ON THEIR BLOCK. THEN IT BECAME, IT WAS AND I TOLD YOU SO MOMENT. ADAM AT THOSE MOMENTS. I WOULD RATHER THE CITIZENS ENGAGE WHEN YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WE ARE HAVING A VOTE ON DEMOLITION IN ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF. A LOT OF COMPLAINTS THAT THE MILITIAS ARE OCCURRING ALL AROUND THE CITY, WHY ISN’T THE CITY DOING SOMETHING. I AM TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, BUT YOU CANNOT COMPLAIN AFTER THE FACT, OU HAVE TO FOCUS ON THAT MY NEW CHEF DURING THE TIME THAT IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS WHEN A COUNCILMEMBER CALLS THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT FOR THE CITY AND SAYS, WHY DID YOU TAKE THAT $4 MILLION THAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO SPEND ON CATCH BASINS AND SPEND IT ON YOUR PET PROJECT OVER THERE? TRAVERS: WE HAVE COVERED YOU IN THE MEDIA FOR 12 YEARS NOW. YOU ARE NOT NAIVE. SOME PEOPLE LOVE TO LOVE STACY HEAD, SOME PEOPLE FEEL LIKE YOU SHOULD HAVE RUN FOR HIGHER OFFICE. IT DID NOT HAPPEN. OTHERS LOVE TO HATE STACY HEAD. HOW DOES HISTORY REMEMBER YOU AND YOUR TIME ON THE COUNCIL. THIS IS THE FINAL QUESTION. >> I DON’T KNOW. THAT IS NOT WHAT MOTIVATES ME. IT HAS NEVER BEEN WHAT MOTIVATES ME. I HAVE AN AMAZING FAMILY, AND INCREDIBLY GOOD GROUP OF FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS. I HAVE AN INCREDIBLE STAFF. WHEN I DO MY JOB, AND I DO A GOOD JOB, I COULD SEE IT IN THEIR EYES. WHEN I DON’T, I COULD SEE IT IN THEIR EYES. I WANT TO MAKE THEM PROUD OF ME AND I WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING. MY MORAL COMPASS IS CAUGHT UP IN JUDEO-CHRISTIAN VALUES AND HAS REFLECTED IN THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CLOSEST TO ME AND AROUND ME. IF I DO A GOOD JOB FOR MYSELF AND WHAT I BELIEVE IN FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AROUND ME BUT I THINK THAT OUR HONORABLE AND AMAZING PEOPLE, I HAVE DONE ALL HE CAN DO. IF I MAKE SOMEBODY MAD, WELL, YOU DO. TRAVERS: COUNCILWOMAN STACY HEAD, IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE. OUTGOING NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCILMEMBER, THIS IS THE HOT SEAT. THIS ENTIRE INTERVIEW WILL BE O

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Hot Seat: Outgoing council member Stacy Head on the good, the bad, the ugly

Outgoing and longtime New Orleans City Council member Stacy Head discussed several topics currently facing New Orleans, including the state of recovery since Hurricane Katrina and her thoughts on the removal of four Confederate monuments.

Head, who is finishing out her term as council member-at-large, also spoke about her future plans and what she hope to accomplish in her last days as a council member.